Asset Management

Asset management or fund management jobs sit within the 'buy side' of the financial services sector, where equities, bonds, commodities and sometimes derivatives are selected on behalf of investors that range from individuals to governments and international pension funds.
Whether you are a fully experienced asset manager or looking for your first trainee role in fund management, eFinancialCareers has the position for you.

The Changing Face of Asset Management Strategy

Historically, the focus of fund managers has been the 'long only' game where the role has been to simply select the right assets to buy and benefit from the growth in value.

However, in today's more sophisticated financial market, these long only funds have subdivided into two types – active and passive funds. For active funds, the aim of the fund manager is to beat the market average. For passive funds, the aim is to achieve the market average by tracking the stock market index.

Hedge funds have also become much more common, where the fund manager can be much more aggressive – for example combining long positions, buying investments, with short positions, selling investments that are not owned, and making extensive use of derivatives.

These changes have created a wide range of career opportunities from aggressive hedge funds to long only actively managed funds and the more straightforward passive, index tracker funds.

Roles within Asset Management

Managing money

Managing money are the investment roles within asset management focused on the selection of the investments for the funds.

The fund manager makes the ultimate decision on which investments are held by the fund, but the fund manager will be supported by a team of researchers assisting in evaluating the available investments. Successful candidates often have experience as business analysts or accountants able to best evaluate the investment opportunities.

Sales and Client Services

Sales & client services focus on marketing and selling the fund – known as distribution - and then retaining or increasing the clients’ investment in the fund or funds. These roles incorporate product manager roles, new business development, marketing and relationship management.

Working Behind the Scenes

As well as the in-depth scrutiny of the research analyst, fund management organisations have roles in compliance, risk management and operations. The whole range of different roles within asset management can be found at eFinancialCareers.